Used in solid-phase peptide synthesis as a protected amino acid building block, particularly for incorporating non-natural phenyl-substituted alanine derivatives into peptide chains. The Fmoc group allows for mild base deprotection, making it compatible with Fmoc-strategy synthesis. Its ortho-methylphenyl side chain introduces steric bulk and hydrophobic character, useful in designing peptides with enhanced stability, specific folding, or receptor selectivity. Commonly applied in medicinal chemistry for developing bioactive peptides and peptidomimetics.